{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/malawi/nkhata-bay","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T18:11:26.463Z","place":{"city":"Nkhata Bay","country":"Malawi","countryCode":"MW","lat":-11.60659,"lon":34.29073},"safety":{"score":63,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":62,"confidence":0.89,"caps":[],"databaseScore":63,"travellerSentiment":{"score":61,"label":"Mixed","summary":"While official advisories suggest caution, traveler sentiment is not explicitly detailed in the provided data. The presence of health advisories and crime concerns suggests a need for vigilance.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":50,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":61,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":61,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":63,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":67,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-07-03T09:59:53Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/malawi"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/malawi"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":1.77598671180007,"display":"1.8 / 100k","year":"2012","score":88,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":3.2,"display":"3.2%","year":"2014","score":90,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0,"display":"0 recorded","year":"2021","score":100,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":20.2,"display":"20.2 / 100k","year":"2021","score":42,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":59.3998253,"display":"59/100","year":"2024","score":59,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":54.4467828,"display":"54/100","year":"2024","score":54,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":34.7249395,"display":"35/100","year":"2024","score":35,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":37.2287788,"display":"37/100","year":"2024","score":37,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":45.6372095,"display":"46/100","year":"2024","score":46,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":54.933872,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":16099,"display":"16k residents","year":null,"score":92,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"safe_walking_dark","label":"Feel safe walking alone after dark","value":52.28,"display":"52.3%","year":"2019","score":51,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":15.11,"display":"15.1%","year":"2019","score":44,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":0,"display":"0.00 / 100k","year":"2022","score":92,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":28,"display":"28.0%","year":"2016","score":44,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":37,"display":"US AQI 37 · Good","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":13,"display":"13 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2011","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":27,"display":"July: highs ~27°C · no weather extremes","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":5,"display":"5 active alerts · Wildfire (green)","year":null,"score":78,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution","year":null,"score":72,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":70,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":50,"display":"50 / 100 (Mixed)","year":null,"score":50,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Malawi","distanceKm":119},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Tanzania","distanceKm":483},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Tanzania","distanceKm":489},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Tanzania","distanceKm":493},{"kind":"Wildfire","severity":"green","title":"forest fire notification in Tanzania","distanceKm":497}],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Exercise a high degree of caution in Nkhata Bay due to moderate crime risks and potential for scams.","summary":"Nkhata Bay presents a mixed safety profile, with a moderate composite safety index. While violent crime rates are relatively low compared to global averages, there are concerns regarding petty crime, potential scams, and the rule of law. Travelers should be aware of their surroundings and take precautions, especially when walking at night or near the water.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"While overall homicide rates are low, there are concerns about petty crime and potential shake-downs, particularly in less populated areas or at night."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing and bag-snatching are risks, especially in areas frequented by tourists. Be vigilant with your belongings."},"safeAreas":["Mzuzu-Nkhata Bay Road"],"avoidAreas":[],"scams":["Rastas working with police to solicit bribes from tourists","Being pressured to buy marijuana"],"zones":[{"name":"Nkhata Bay Town Center","level":"caution","note":"Moderate risk of petty crime and potential for bribe attempts; exercise vigilance, especially after dark."},{"name":"Lakeshore Lodges (South of Town)","level":"caution","note":"While generally safe, caution is advised when walking between town and lodges at night due to potential for petty crime."},{"name":"Nkhata Bay Port Area","level":"caution","note":"Can be busy; be aware of your surroundings and belongings due to moderate risk of pickpocketing and theft."},{"name":"Residential Areas","level":"caution","note":"General caution advised; be aware of local conditions and avoid displaying wealth."},{"name":"Mzuzu-Nkhata Bay Road","level":"safe","note":"Recently upgraded and considered one of Malawi's safer roads."}]}}